Bonner County forming objections to forest plan
SANDPOINT — Bonner County is preparing objections to the pending management plan for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.
The county’s newly formed Natural Resources Committee met Tuesday to begin organizing those objections so they can be submitted to the U.S. Forest Service in advance of next week’s deadline to register opposition to aspects of the plan.
The advisory board is slated to meet again Friday morning to present their recommendations to the county commission, which is scheduled to adopt them later in the afternoon. The advisory board meets at 8 a.m. and the commission is meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the Bonner County Administration Building.
The county is hustling to formalize the objections by next Tuesday’s deadline.
Although the committee did not make any recommendations on Tuesday, the tone of its discussion suggested it will urge the county commission to oppose plan designations which could restrict motorized access, timber harvest or grazing.
The committee’s formation has raised questions about its composition, although critics have chosen to chuck bombs at the county commission from the safe confines of anonymity. Critics complain that the committee’s conservative bent is too pronounced and lacks balance.
County commissioners brushed aside the criticisms.
Commission Chairman Cary Kelly said the board reached out to individuals with more moderate leanings, but they turned down the offers. The Idaho Conservation League was invited to join the panel, but Kelly said officials from group declined.
The commission is still seeking a fifth member and may add additional positions on the panel to broaden its representation.
“The more input we get, the more broad-based we can be,” said Kelly.
Commissioner Mike Nielsen has stated that environmentalists are already well-represented by other groups who are already participating in the forest management plan update.
“We have a group of individuals who will represent a majority of our constituents,” said Nielsen.